Leaky pole barn roof

[Branchchipper]

Just looking for ideas to fix a sheet metal roof leak in a large pole barn...

I tracked the source to a self-tapping screw that missed the purlin and stripped out its hole.

Because the hole is stripped, the screw cannot tighten its washer against the roof, and the silicone sealer I added was not enough to keep out water in our most recent storm.

So, it seems like the most durable fix would be an oversized self-tapping screw and washer, with liberal sealer, fastened into that hole (provided I can find said screw at the hardware store).

Other ideas- a standard roofing screw set into the hole, but then screwed into a wood backing plate so that it pulls against roof, or;
nut, bolt and washer through the hole?

Any experience you can share would be helpful- one more storm on the way, then I'll have a "weather window" in which to repair this thing...

 

[TroySD]

Haven't you seen the infomercial on the spray stuff that seals a screen door on the bottom of the row boat? Surely that would work lol.

I would think that removing the screw and sealing with a high quality silicone and maybe a patch on the inside with a small piece of matching steel roofing that is siliconed into place would fix it. That works on the grain bin roofs I've worked on.

 

[beppington]

Remove the loose screw. Then just nail another piece of wood to the side of the rafter where the loose screw is located, below the hole, so the screw will have some new wood to tighten into.

 

[Gizmo2]

Remove the loose screw. Then just nail another piece of wood to the side of the rafter where the loose screw is located, below the hole, so the screw will have some new wood to tighten into.

:thumbsup:

 

[NIXON]

The wood and new screw will work fine. You could also get screws of a larger diameter and just screw it into the hole.works well to. We call them goof screws ,as in" I missed the purlin,I need a goof screw ".

 

[Branchchipper]

Thanks for the replies!

There is insulation on the underside of the roof (fiber blanket bonded to a vapor barrier plastic sheet)- I could slip a small "backer board" in from the nearest insulation seam, then have someone hold it against the steel to screw into it.

But I'd have to cut away a big area of the insulation to nail a "sister" to the purlin to screw into (too bad, because that seems like the most solid fix).

Sounds like the oversize screw and washer (goof screw) with no wood backing is the logical next step.
Thanks again.

 

[George2615]

What Beepington said. That's what I did on mine. I had a couple that missed and added an extra board for the screw to go into. However, I checked the entire roof before insulating and attaching wood sheets though. Yours will be a little more work to fix.

 

[Branchchipper]

Thanks.
My building was put up in June 2008- this leak just appeared in recent months, and it took me a long time to track down!
Insulation is wet over a wide area, and it is all high overhead!

 

[SandburRanch]

Epoxy or JB weld for the sealer and run the original screw back in the hole.

 

[250quality]

Sure makes me happy I spent the extra on my shop roof. I sheeted it first then synthetic membrane ,strapping and steel. Never did find steel to be 100% waterproof.

 

[ruren]

A few years ago I fixed a couple of holes in a pole barn roof with a tape made for that purpose. I picked it up at our local big box home improvement store, next to the window flashing tapes. It was basically the same stuff, a rubbery tape with a thick white facing. Sealed really well in the cold fall weather and it was flexible enough to wrap over the top of a rib. It cost a few bucks for a roll but worked real well for me.

Just looking for ideas to fix a sheet metal roof leak in a large pole barn...

I tracked the source to a self-tapping screw that missed the purlin and stripped out its hole.

Because the hole is stripped, the screw cannot tighten its washer against the roof, and the silicone sealer I added was not enough to keep out water in our most recent storm.

So, it seems like the most durable fix would be an oversized self-tapping screw and washer, with liberal sealer, fastened into that hole (provided I can find said screw at the hardware store).

Other ideas- a standard roofing screw set into the hole, but then screwed into a wood backing plate so that it pulls against roof, or;
nut, bolt and washer through the hole?

Any experience you can share would be helpful- one more storm on the way, then I'll have a "weather window" in which to repair this thing...

 

[JB4310]

Clear silicone caulk, pull the screw out caulk in and around the hole and put the screw back in. any type of caulk would work.

Should take the least amount of time and will never leak.

JB

 

[deepNdirt]

when I built my shed I use used metal roofing, it had holes from its previous attachment in it, so what I wound up doing is pop-riveting each hole then dab them with a RV elastic roof sealer, But I'm sure any type sealer will work, I just had some left over from when doing the RV top, was 8-9 years ago, no problem yet,
in fact there is a cutter seem sealer available that I'm sure would work,

 

[legbuh]

I used silicone on mine. When we moved in we had a pole shed I wanted to finish (concrete floor, insulation, etc). We had a couple weeks before the guys came to do the work so every time it rained I'd go out and look for leaks. I found 4 or 5. I'd circle them with marker on the inside, then when it dried, I'd seal with silicone on both sides of the roof.

So far so good...

I asked if anyone made a material like a hot rubber that could be used on the roof but got no info from the builder. But, snow wouldn't slide off either if that was put up.

 

[chucko]

Build a new barn. that is they only way to be sure

 

[MikeD74T]

My barn roof is covered with recycled aluminum roofing. Some of the holes didn't align with the purlins or were too large to seal with a screw. I closed those holes with silicone caulk and have had no leaks.
Saw this product in Farm Show : Civil - Emerging Construction Technologies
but can't access Kwik-kap's website. They may be out of business. MikeD74T

 

[chucko]

My barn roof is covered with recycled aluminum roofing. Some of the holes didn't align with the purlins or were too large to seal with a screw. I closed those holes with silicone caulk and have had no leaks.
Saw this product in Farm Show : Civil - Emerging Construction Technologies
but can't access Kwik-kap's website. They may be out of business. MikeD74T

neat simple idea. looks link not much more than a piece of tinfoil (i am sure thicker) glued over the screw head

 

[grsthegreat]

I second the epoxy repair. Theres also a 2 part waterseal bonding puddy that homedepot sells....works great. I even fixed a hole on a horse water tank with that stuf. Its called waterplug or waterweld or some such name.

 

[MikeD74T]

I second the epoxy repair. Theres also a 2 part waterseal bonding puddy that homedepot sells....works great. I even fixed a hole on a horse water tank with that stuf. Its called waterplug or waterweld or some such name.

Metal roofs move a lot with temperature changes. Even a cloud passing over will get a roof to creaking. I doubt anything rigid would hold up for very long. MikeD74T

 

[Army grunt]

:thumbsup:

Remove the loose screw. Then just nail another piece of wood to the side of the rafter where the loose screw is located, below the hole, so the screw will have some new wood to tighten into.

'
Army Grunt